firesprinkler.tv Fire sprinkler |
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firesprinkler.tv Fire sprinkler |
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Fire officials are calling this morning’s fire in the Wilsonville Rite Aid an object lesson in the benefits of installing fire-suppression systems in all new construction.
Cassandra Ulven, spokeswoman for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, said firefighters were called to the drugstore at 8235 S.W. Wilsonville Road at 7:05 a.m., after employees noticed smoke inside the building.
Firefighters, arriving within four minutes, found a small fire burning in a work room next to the pharmacy. A single sprinkler head kept the fire from growing. A single fire crew was able quickly to extinguish the fire.
“Without a fire sprinkler system, this fire could have grown much larger, potentially injuring occupants and causing a lot more damage to the building and contents,” Ulven said. “While fire sprinkler systems are required in commercial buildings, it is still illustrative of the benefits a fire sprinkler system can provide to any building, including a single-family home.”
Firefighters shut off the sprinkler system, made sure the fire hadn’t spread, then helped to salvage items affected by the fire.
No injuries were reported. Cause of the fire was accidental, Ulven said. A damage estimate was not yet available.
– Rick Bella; rickbella@news.oregonian.com